2. Signed Georges Niang
Signed to 3-year, $26 million contract
Adding Max Strus in a sign-and-trade allowed the Cavaliers to retain access to their Mid-Level Exception, and they used a large chunk of it to sign former Philadelphia 76ers forward Georges Niang.
Niang has one true NBA skill: he shoots the basketball. He shoots early and often, he can hit from anywhere around the arc, and if you ask him to do much else you may be disappointed. He has hit over 40 percent of his 3-pointers in each of the past five seasons, and last year 76.5 percent of his shots were from beyond the arc, one of the higher percentages in the league.
Defensively, Niang tries hard but lacks the physical tools to be a difference-maker; he is striving to be average, not great. He’s a heady player who understands the playbook well and will move the ball, but he isn’t a good enough passer to run any offense through. The Cavs will want to use Niang primarily, if not exclusively, as a floor-spacing play finisher.
If the Cavs wanted to add a shooter, it’s hard to argue with the signing of Niang. He can play as a stretch-4 alongside either Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley, or occasionally at the 3. The question becomes one of opportunity cost; would the Cavs have been better off making a run at Grant Williams for the full MLE, or Josh Richardson at something around Niang’s salary? Perhaps, but the Cavs identified their greatest need and took a swing at it.
Grade: B+